Next time you're tempted to save time and expense on images, go to one of the stock photography houses and choose something that is in keeping with your images budget. Or ask Six Degrees Studio for assistance.

You'll sleep better at night.

Update: Getty has just opened up the ability to use thousands of their photos for free, as long as their embed credit is used. More information here, courtesy Getty Images.

January 21, 2014

January 15, 2014

Google's December changes to search engine optimization and the impact on AdWords/PPC were received with caution, considering the battering the realm of searchmasters have withstood over the past year and a half.

I recently attended a popular lunchtime meetup hosted by C-1 Partners on Google's newest round of fiddling with their algorithm, which has been deeply affecting traffic to websites. There's 'disavows' and 'penalties' and massive amounts of metrics involved.

In the end, however, the fundamentals still apply. Google lives to breathe relevancy into your inquisive keyword-rich mind. So you'll come back and back and back. To deliver on that they must continually change and yet stay the same. Here's what is still at the core:

Content - computers can't adequately judge relevancy of anything if there are not words involved. Tags, titles, headlines, text - hugely important. Keywords matter, so study up on what keywords are most searched in your type of business. Note of caution: be selective, not repetitive. Use keywords in some places, but not every place.

Backlinks - high-quality or bust. Find out who is backlinking to your site and eliminate those that aren't helping your cause (and could potentially be harming it). And don't stop finding and nurturing the good ones.

Feed the machine. How relevant can one possibly be to Google if their website hasn't see an update since who knows when? New content with the right keyword density (which is purported to be down closer to 3% now) is important. Websites with more content seem to be ranking better in Google these days, so sharpen the pencils and get writing.

Speed - sites that take too long to load frustrate searchers (there is typically a sense of urgency when we search for something). Google wants folks to be able to get to what they're looking for quickly.

Renew your domain and hosting for years out, not just one or two. This tells Google you plan on being around for a good long while, so you matter more to them.

If you’d like help with optimizing your website, figuring out how to plan content, or getting started with social media and authorship, let me know. We can help you come up with a plan of action and help get some of it done for you!

October 23, 2013

The fine folks at Search Engine Land (in collaboration with infographic designers Column Five Media) have published an infographic showing perfectly how search engine optimization is art and science (as any website developer can attest to).

The easy to digest visual shows the major factors to focus on for search engine ranking success as elements, and even provides an easy to understand numbering system for what elements are more powerful than others (although all are mix and match and many must be used together for best results).

September 03, 2013

According to Wikipedia, the adoption of the trade name "Peace" was publicly announced in the U.S. on 29 April 1945 by the introducers, Messrs Conard Pyle Co. This was the very day that Berlin fell, officially considered the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Later that year Peace roses were given to each of the delegations at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco, each with a note which read:

"We hope the 'Peace' rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace.

July 24, 2013

Great business ideas are everywhere and can create the kind of change that really delivers results.

I recently attended the The Colorado Symphony Orchestra performing various works by John Williams (Harry Potter, Juraissic Park, Star Wars) along with the music from other famous movies (Rocky, Chariots of Fire, Casablanca, Downton Abbey).

You know this isn't your stereotypical Symphony when, after all musicians have warmed their instruments and the lights have dimmed, the conductor jogs across the stage dressed like Rocky. Does a little foot maneuver, runs up and down the symphony hall stairs (complete with boxing moves at the top), and back on stage to begin the evening's performance.

And after Intermission, prior to the beginning of the Star Wars compositions the same conductor waddles across the stage dressed as Yoda. Complete with light saber conductor's stick and proceeds to provide a Top 10 List Letterman style about Star Wars geeks (spot-on I might add).

This sort of thing isn't just 'entertainment'. More like smart marketing with its part personality, part showmanship, and part strategic genius in shifting the paradigm of how one perceives, in this case, "the Symphony". Far from boring or stodgy, the Conductor and his orchestra delivered energy, enthusiasm, and wit along with the impressive array of music. And everyone took notice - laughing, smiling, and thoroughly getting a kick out of the whole thing.

I'll wager than most of us will be back for more, more often, and when we do the Conductor will have delivered on the best result of all - regularly packed houses.

Free ticket! The Colorado Symphony is having a 5K Run/Walk at Sloan's Lake on September 21st. They want to be known as the "most fit" symphony in the U.S. A great cause and guaranteed to be a hoot, and BONUS! each race registration comes with a FREE ticket to any of the Colorado Symphony's 2013/14 season concerts at Boettcher Concert Hall, excluding Spotlight Performances.